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Digital Cameras September 16, 2001 URL: http://www.zdnet.com.au/reviews/coolgear/cameras/soa/Digital-Cameras/0,139023377,120107155,00.htm
IntroductionThere's a breathtaking number of digital cameras available these days, each with a unique set of features, storage type, and image quality. So how do you know which one's for you? We look at some of the hottest digital still cameras and camcorders on the market to help you decide. Sony Mavica MVC-CD1000
Sony Mavica MVC-CD1000
Sony Electronics has improved on its Mavica line of digital still cameras with the AU$2,999
Mavica MVC-CD1000, an amazing new model that stores images on a built-in CD-R drive.
Using a single 156MB disc, users can store up to 160 high-res 1,600x1,200 images or a
mind-boggling 1,080 Web-ready 640x480 shots.This hefty new Mavica features a through-the-lens
optical viewfinder, as well as a 2.5-inch colour LCD. A 10x digital zoom, manual as well
as automatic focus, and a rechargeable lithium-ion battery ensure you'll get the images you
want whenever you need them.
Price: AU$2,999 Ricoh RDC-7
Billed as an image-capturing device rather than a digital camera, Ricoh's slick RDC-7 one-ups
competing products with a 3.3-megapixel charge-coupled device (CCD) and Pro Mode software
to boost resolution by 20 percent. Featuring an optical viewfinder as well as a 2-inch swivelling
colour LCD panel, the RDC-7 makes it snap-simple to frame shots. You can also record short
movies or sound clips, and scan text. In addition, a 3x optical zoom and high- definition macro
mode deliver wide flexibility. The device features 8MB of internal memory and supports standard
SmartMedia cards and direct USB connectivity to PCs.
Price: AU$1,999 Nikon Coolpix 800
The 2-megapixel Nikon Coolpix 800 boasts crisply detailed output, terrific Nikkor optics, a 269 gram
carrying weight, and an average selling prices just under AU$1,900. Like all Coolpix cameras, the 800 is
loaded with an array of easy-to-use exposure, focus, flash, metering, and image-compression controls.
If you want an affordable camera that doesn't cut corners, it's definitely worth a look.
Price: AU$1,849 Nikon Coolpix 990
The AU$2,149 Nikon Coolpix 990 is a digital camera that's worth mentioning. Its superb Nikkor 3x zoom
lens and hefty 3.3-megapixel CCD produce outstanding detail and colour accuracy as good as any
we've seen in a sub-$2,200 camera. The Coolpix 990 also features a huge selection of manual and
automatic settings, as well as a unique pivoting chassis design that lets you swivel its lens 360 degrees.
Price: AU$2,149 Sony DCR-PC100
The Sony DCR-PC100 was one of the first Mini DV digital camcorders available, and it's still one of
the best. Its tiny, lightweight chassis, exquisite Zeiss optics, and flexible, responsive controls
make it a natural for shooting beautifully detailed digital video or snapping high-resolution
1,152x864 still images. Best of all, thanks to a recent price drop, the AU$3,999 DCR-PC100
is now also a great bargain.
Price: AU$3,999
Panasonic NV-DS25A DV Camera
The NV-DS25A digital video camera from Panasonic, can shoot video on a mini DV cassette in
normal or long play recording, as well as capture 200 still images on an 8MB MultiMedia card.
Images can also be recorded from the MultiMedia card to the DV cassette. With a sharp
2.5 inch LCD, 20x optical zoom and 40x/400x digital zoom, and a plethora of optional extras,
the NV-DS25A is hard to pass by.
Price: AU$2,454.
Kodak DC5000
The Kodak DC5000 is a sensible solution for users who need a reliable, rough-and-ready,
take-anywhere digital camera that will get the shot, no matter what the weather.
The DC5000 has a 2-megapixel CCD that produces a maximum resolution of 1,760 x 1,168,
which is high enough to produce 8 x 10 enlargements clearly.
The CD5000 has a 1.8 inch LCD viewfinder, 2x optical and 4x digital zoom, and runs on 4 AA batteries.
Price: AU$1,349.
Fujfilm FinePix 40i
The new Fujfilm FinePix 40i digital camera combines the features of an MP3 player, a 2.4-megapixel
digital still camera, and a digital video camera in an attractive, 226 gram package. Picture quality
was sharp and had excellent colour saturation. Image downloads and MP3 uploads to and from
the camera are handled by a USB connection. Fuji includes two high-capacity nickel hydride batteries
and a charger but no memory card; buyers will need to factor in the cost of storage media. The
camera's MP3 feature works only with Smartmedia cards.
Price: AU$1,600.
JVC Digital DualCam GR-DVL9800 AE
The JVC Digital DualCamcamcorder's most notable features are a whopping 29 digital effects
and transitions, the ability to record 1024 x 768 still images, a flexible selection of
white-balance settings, a pop-up internal flash, and a panorama mode that mimics the
function of a 0.7x wide-angle lens. It also stores still images on either tape or a
MultiMediaCard, and can record video and still images at the same time. Although
JVC's Digital DualCam GR-DVL9800 AE expensive, you certainly get what you pay for.
Price: AU$3,798.
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